Microsoft’s own scripting efforts are regarded as relatively inferior to the cross-platform Flash, which now supports XML, Unicode, MP3 and HTML and which was taken closer towards Java 2 Enterprise Edition (J2EE) in 2002. The Flash Player, meanwhile, is compatible with most browsers and used on nearly 90% of desktops.

Flash would give Microsoft access to tools for building rich interfaces on both desktops and mobile devices, furthering .NET.

An acquisition, though, would be seen as a hostile move deliberately designed to thwart J2EE uptake. Flash is a powerful and rich development environment, which – through Macromedia’s changes this year – took a step closer to J2EE.

1 Comments For This Post

While macromedia says they have a policy of not commenting on rumors, they do point out that this rumor shows up every year or so.

I\’d point out that the author of the article didn\’t say that MS *was* interested in buying MM, just that they *should be*. Big difference. It is also the difference between a mental exercise article and actual news. Though it appeared to be news, it wasn\’t.